| Author | Message | ||
     Tonya "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Tonya Post Number: 102 Registered: 07-2006 Rating: |
Poor people must learn how to help themselves By ZANNA VAIDA 7/29/2006 Zanna Vaida, who lives in Lackawanna, understands what it's like to be poor: If immigrants can adapt to a new culture without knowing the English language and become financially secure, so can the native working poor. Fifteen years ago, my husband and I made a huge decision in our lives. While here on visitor visas, we decided to become legal immigrants and U.S. citizens. We saw the opportunity provided by the free-market economy to move ahead. In the former Soviet Union, prices for products and services were the same in all 15 republics. We didn't have a choice or a chance to compare and save, because the prices were regulated by the communist regime. The lack of competition and other benefits of the free-market society helped the black-market economy to boom and the government to be corrupted. When we discovered capitalist opportunities for comparing and savings, we used it to our advantage to move ahead financially. We were poor in 1991, with only a few dollars in our pockets. Welfare recipients were rich compared to us, but we survived. When we received working authorizations in 1995, we began to work and started saving immediately. We worked many hours in order to save for our first television set, first car and the down payment on our first home. At the same time, we were sending money home to support our children and family, and were saving for their trips to come to their new home. When we became permanent residents and received green cards in 1999, our two boys were automatically granted permanent residency and immediate entry to the United States. We didn't have a problem paying for their trips, because we had saved in advance. While adapting to a new cultural environment and learning the English language we read The Buffalo News, a local guide in our financial adaptation and purchasing power. By spending only a few minutes cutting grocery coupons on Sunday mornings, I was saving a tenth of our dollars while shopping for food. I was investing money in time because time is money. Most important, The News has provided food for thought in our cultural adventures in Western New York: We learned who is who and what is what. We also discovered our first financial advisers - Money and Kiplingers magazines, and The News business section. In 2004, I reunited with my brother, his wife and their two children after 13 years of separation. The number 13 is lucky for me since then. They were granted refugee status when I applied for them through the International Organization for Migration. They came here with the help of Catholic Charities, which volunteered to be their sponsor because they were poor. Last month, Viktor and Vira purchased their first home. They did their homework on real estate prices and interest rates. They took responsibility for their actions and found a good deal. I am proud of them. Life hasn't been easy for us, for them or for those who came here before us. It's tough to be poor, and I understand that through my personal experience and the experience of my family. However, the poor must take responsibility for actions to better themselves. It must be done rationally. Instead of blaming others for taking advantage of them, they must help themselves first. They must do their homework and control their spending. They must learn how to manage money and themselves. • • • MY VIEW is a personal column. For submission guidelines on columns appearing in this space, visit the Buffalo.com Web site and click on Top Stories. Then click on Opinion, My View and Guidelines; or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Opinion Pages Guidelines, The Buffalo News, P.O. Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240. http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060729/1016287.asp | ||
| Semperfemme Newbie Poster Username: Semperfemme Post Number: 23 Registered: 07-2006 Rating: N/A |
Awesome article and very inspirational. It's amazing how people come can from nothing and build something of themselves with hardwork, perseverance, planning, and a little research. Why AMERICANS who were born and raised here and already speak the language can't seem to grasp this concept is beyond me. But personal responsibility is a bitch like that. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 5543 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Semperfemme, Foks who were born and bred in the US over generations have an entirely DIFFERENT perspective and experience than do those who come here from someplace else. Especially Black foks, MOST of whom are the product of +200 years of racism. | ||
| Kola_boof "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Kola_boof Post Number: 2491 Registered: 02-2005 Rating: N/A |
ABM, I agree with you TOTALLY. I am not from here, and yet because I was raised by VERY hardworking, dignified, conscious family-oriented Black Americans---I have been able to see a side that is never discussed. The fact that there really are..."no boot straps". And the whole "one drop" thing has made me see that we are ALL a product of where we came from...and that it can't simply be explained or dismissed away---as King Piankhy said: "there is no such thing as the past, the present and the future--all three are simultaneous". And most of the time---only the most DRIVEN, determined, over-achieving foreigners come over here. Not the regular foks (to borrow your word  ). BTW---I am so proud of you--businessman, Father, committed husband. GET OUTTA HERE WIT YO BAD SELF!!! | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 5545 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Kola, I'm as much an advocate of foks working their a$$e$ off to succeed as any one. But I'm always amazed how foks causually make these Apples & Oranges between African Americans and other foks, especially immigrants. It's as if there's sort of the convenient, selective 'amnesia' going on where foks wants to pretend as though Black foks were on the a$$end of the last +300 years of American history. | ||
| Kola_boof "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Kola_boof Post Number: 2494 Registered: 02-2005 Rating: |
Exactly. And don't get me started on how NONE of my "Black American" Adopted brothers could get a BANK LOAN----but Thomas, because he was from "CENTRAL AMERICA"---got a loan through some special program California has for foreigners. Naturally, I benefitted (as millions of LATINOS here mostly do)---but I've also made it a point to tell others about that shit. It seems to me that since AAs built this country--these special Bank Loan Incentives would be targeted at THEM...and not the Asians, Latinos who come here and are virtually HANDED a headstart. They dont' WANT Black Americans to succeed or endeavor in ANY WAY. That's what the whole welfare program is set up for "psychologically". I swear to God, I've never seen such brilliant STRATEGIZING until I came to know the White American. | ||
| Semperfemme Newbie Poster Username: Semperfemme Post Number: 25 Registered: 07-2006 Rating: N/A |
Abm: So are you saying that Black experience with racism absolves us of our responsibility to provide a better future and environment for our offspring? I'm a direct descedent of slaves on both sides of my family. My grandmother and great aunt spent most of their lives building a library of books for the following generations. They believed that through education and fortitude, the Black community could rise above our trials. I'm not rich, hell I'm strapped for cash and stressed, but I'm making it. I scrubbed floors and bathrooms right next to Maria and Esperanza to make it. I realized that without a college education life is going to be a hell of a lot more difficult. I have no student loans or grants, I pay cash. Perseverance, hard work, sacrifice, temperance. Trust me, I do empathize, but I busted my ass and I expect that of anyone else who comes from nothing and wants to make it as well. | ||
| Semperfemme Regular Poster Username: Semperfemme Post Number: 26 Registered: 07-2006 Rating: N/A |
Abm- I wasn't comparing AA's and immigrants. I said "Americans" because as a whole Americans are lazy and stupid ; waiting for someone to save them from their own incompetence. Why do you think Bush is still president? Why have we not nationalized healthcare? Because it's easier to sit on one's ass and do nothing. Personal responsibility isn't just a "Black" thing to me, it's a "people" thing and a lot of people in this country are content to wait around blind, dumb, and deaf while screaming to the top of their lungs how America owes them a good living. The trailer trash is just as annoying to me as the chickenheads and I make no exceptions And if I recall correctly, you were the one to make the comparsion between immigrants and Black Americans in response to my comment, so I hope you weren't reading something into my comment that I did not intend. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 5547 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Kola, Then you shouldn't be surprised by the level of "niggerstock" amongst African Americans. Hell. There's LOTS of mofos who are vested in maintaining such. Semperfemme, NOTHING absolves one of responsibility of one's own life and future. But, again, the perspectives differ. Thus, perhaps why and how a person who descended from American slavery and was born and bred in American racism might have DIFFERENT hurdles to surmount. I am also a descent of American slavery. Product of a broken home, welfare, etc. I've I've done well. Have a college education, own a home, businesses, etc. Believeyoume, I am very MUCH an advocate of foks doing for their own. But I've ALSO been close enuff to failure to know that if but for a single mistake or 2 my life prospects might have been very DIFFERENT from what they have been. Btw: I thought you were affirming the thesis expressed in Tonya's article which specifically mentioned IMMIGRANTS as some basis for asserting personal initiative. Please pardon where and how I were in error. | ||
| Fortified "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Fortified Post Number: 228 Registered: 04-2006 Rating: N/A |
But Abm, my question is: what distinguishes you (who accomplished so much, given your background) from another brotha who is a descendant of slavery, experienced institutionalized racism, grew up in a broken home, poverty, etc., but decided to sell drugs, abuse women, not get an education or amount to anything? When do we stop blaming our environment and take responsibility for our choices? | ||
| Kola_boof "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Kola_boof Post Number: 2499 Registered: 02-2005 Rating: |
Fortified, not every person has the same "Strength" or "Weakness"----and certainly not every human being has the same Mother/Father or receives the same love. Am I the only person who recognizes that if there are BANK LOANS--not Federal Monies (another issue)--but BANK LOANS set aside for "foreigners" and NOT for AAs....then it stands to reason there must be other "incentives" calculated to be a CRUTCH to those that the U.S. traditionally has pitted against the AA...which is us, the foreigner "people of color" (term I hate)? Can those of us like ME, ABM and others who have achieved some small stature and success at least HELP OUT by acknowledging these Social Directives and challenging them? The "MATH" thread--and Mzuri's responses on it, to my mind, point to yet another sympton. And since we are discussing "IMMIGRANTS" Vs. AMERICANS----how is this a fair comparison when only a trickle of the most determined, ambitious, hungry are pitted against an entire NATION. There are slovenly, LAZY ass do-nothings in these other countries, too. Basically--this whole article is printed so that the HAVES can dismiss the HAVE NOTS as "lazy" and "undeserving" and "not trying hard enough". It's biased. | ||
| Kola_boof "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Kola_boof Post Number: 2500 Registered: 02-2005 Rating: N/A |
And it's classist. | ||
| Semperfemme Regular Poster Username: Semperfemme Post Number: 27 Registered: 07-2006 Rating: N/A |
Kola Boof- I see where you are coming from, but the one thing Americans have is the home field advantage. Even as AA we have citizenship and American education to back us up(You can get a security clearance with this if you have a clean record and sponsorship); so when a person from another country can come here and make a life in 10 years, it can make one wonder. How much of the issue is racism and how much is blatant complacency? This isn't just Koreans and Pakistanis by the way, many of my native African brothers and sisters arrive and quickly find an occupation or education to afford, at least their children, a better life. They do it without bank loans, but with bare hands and community. Our lack of true community in the Black nation is a whole 'nother issue all together but that's best saved for another post. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 5556 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Fortified, I've benefited from a combination of personal initiative, a very loving and supportive mother, extended family & friends and Divine Intervention (or Luck, depending upon which you do or don't believe in). I believe all THREE of those resulted in my becoming who and what I am. And I believe if you closely and fairly examine the lives of most anyone who succeeds, you see varying degrees of the SAME. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 5557 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
And, to be honest, for some reason I have ALWAYS enjoyed very comfortable and very helpful relationships with WHITE people. Yes. I've experienced racism like most other African Americans. But in MOST cases, if and when I've formulated an ongoing relationship with White foks, I've gotten more POSITIVE things from such than negative things. When in the presense of adults, I was mostly a quiet, reserve, obedient and observant child. I never failed to say "Thank you", "Excuse me" and "May I...". And I never failed hold a door open for a woman, raise my hand to ask or answer a question in school and even stand when woman approaches or departs a table when I'm dining out. Part of that was nature. And part of it was my mother's rearing. I believe my fluency personal etiquette and decorum helped me A LOT throughout the course of my life. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 5558 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: |
Kola: "And since we are discussing "IMMIGRANTS" Vs. AMERICANS----how is this a fair comparison when only a trickle of the most determined, ambitious, hungry are pitted against an entire NATION. There are slovenly, LAZY ass do-nothings in these other countries, too." Good point! | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 5559 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Semperfemme: "This isn't just Koreans and Pakistanis by the way, many of my native African brothers and sisters arrive and quickly find an occupation or education to afford, at least their children, a better life. They do it without bank loans, but with bare hands and community...Our lack of true community in the Black nation is a whole 'nother issue all together but that's best saved for another post." I think you've cited much of the problem here: There is scant real community amongst us native American Blacks. We're 2 generations into believing we should intergrate into some colorless America. Thus, there's too little sharing amongst us of what it takes to succeed. However, the Koreans, Pakistanis and Africans you allude to do not harbor such delusions. They KNOW they must rely upon each other to survive and to thrive. Again. It's NOT just about opportunity. It's about mindset, perspective and life experience. | ||
| Chrishayden "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Chrishayden Post Number: 2507 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A |
Did this heifer ever have to go to the Supreme Court to use the same TOILET as a white woman? Did this bitch ever have to get her head beat in to vote? I get sick of this crap. America picks and chooses the immigrants it lets in here. If you are stupid, broke, non white, diseased or crazy, your ass don't get in. All the failures from these other countries are left right over there. She is WHITE so she is allright. She came here free and is given everything she needs--except if she starts shooting off her mouth. Then she will get her ass deported (look back in history and see how they did that to all the ungrateful immigrants after WWI--as well as the Mafiosos, some of whom came here as children. This heifer is probably in the Russian Mafia. Oh, and she should ask that Ukranian who shot Bill Cosby's son what his excuse is. The bad thing is that self loathing negroes will buy into this. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 5566 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Chris, Yeah...especially that LAST part. Btw: The ironic juxtaposition of Cosby's recent tirades against poor Black foks (now, especially, Black males) versus the fact that his son Enis was killed by a WHITE dude while Enis was in hot/heavy pursuit of a latenight booty call with a WHITE woman never ceases to astond me. | ||
| Schakspir "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Schakspir Post Number: 365 Registered: 12-2005 Rating: N/A |
Superfemme: Kola Boof- I see where you are coming from, but the one thing Americans have is the home field advantage. Even as AA we have citizenship and American education to back us up(You can get a security clearance with this if you have a clean record and sponsorship); so when a person from another country can come here and make a life in 10 years, it can make one wonder. How much of the issue is racism and how much is blatant complacency? This isn't just Koreans and Pakistanis by the way, many of my native African brothers and sisters arrive and quickly find an occupation or education to afford, at least their children, a better life. They do it without bank loans, but with bare hands and community. Our lack of true community in the Black nation is a whole 'nother issue all together but that's best saved for another post. Schakspir: 90 percent of America's wealth is controlled by 10 percent of its people. These Asians and Africans you talk about, who come to America and open up little shops in run-down communities, are often college graduates, or even former professionals. They aren't making any real money, just petty mercantile chump change. How much of America's REAL wealth is controlled by Asian and African immigrants,--let alone Afro-Americans? Probably less than 3 percent altogether. WITH A SITUATION LIKE THIS, IT IS OBSCENE TO SUGGEST THAT "POOR PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO HELP THEMSELVES" WHEN IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ACCESS WHATEVER TO THE NATION'S WEALTH--AND WHOMEVER CONTROLS AMERICA'S WEALTH INTENDS TO KEEP CONTROLLING IT, THEY WILL NEVER GIVE UP A DIME OF THEIR WEALTH, NOT EVEN TO THE MIDDLE-CLASS. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 5567 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Schakspir, Indeed. The powerful NEVER concedes their wealth or power. Ultimately, such must be wrestled from them, most often via sweat, sinew and blood. And there will likely ALWAYS be some grossly disproportionate wealth the hands of the few. Still, people who prepare and work together for a common cause can claim a high share of such than squalid, meager morsels we currently dine upon. | ||
| Schakspir "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Schakspir Post Number: 366 Registered: 12-2005 Rating: N/A |
Abm: And there will likely ALWAYS be some grossly disproportionate wealth the hands of the few. Still, people who prepare and work together for a common cause can claim a high share of such than squalid, meager morsels we currently dine upon. Schakspir: Yeah--until somebody decides to do something about it. |
